• Jo Dicks's Research

Related links

• AT JIC:
• Computational and Systems Biology
• Dicks Computational Biology Group
• ON THE WEB:
• ComparaGRID project
• GERMINATE project
• Grain Legumes project
• MONOGRAM Cross Institute Project

Curriculum Vitae

• 1990 BSc. in Mathematics, University of Nottingham, UK
• 1991 MSc. in Applied Statistics, University of Oxford, UK
• 1991-1996 Research Assistant in Genetics Laboratory, University of Oxford, UK
• 1999 DPhil. in Biological Sciences, University of Oxford, UK
• 1996-present Project Leader in Computational Biology, John Innes Centre, UK
• 2001-2007 Honorary Lecturer in Computing Sciences, University of East Anglia, UK
• 2008- Honorary Senior Lecturer in Computing Sciences, University of East Anglia, UK

Jo Dicks

Project Leader

Computational and Systems Biology

Contact details

jo.dicks@jic.ac.uk

Research interests

MET ISP

With the Osbourn group we are discovering genetic and genomic features of functional plant gene clusters, to more fully understand the evolutionary processes driving their creation. In addition, we are beginning to use machine learning techniques that use these features to hunt for candidate gene clusters in newly-sequenced plant genomes.

With the O'Maille group we are developing new computational methodologies to reconstruct catalytic landscapes from partial SCOPE analyses. Path analyses on the reconstructed landscapes then enable us to understand potential evolutionary trajectories of enzyme sequences.

DEV ISP

With the Ellis group we have developed a new approach to genetic mapping, THREaD Mapper. The software enables the estimation of visual, global genetic maps that may be integrated visually with genomic sequence. In collaboration with the Snape, Griffiths and Bancroft groups we are pushing THREaD Mapper's analytical capabilities, most recently for high-throughput genetic mapping datasets consisting of tens of thousands of markers. 

With the Griffiths group we are developing further our Tyrant software to analyse the genetic diversity of a key wheat germplasm collection.

We lead the JIC effort within the BBSRC MONOGRAM Informatics Working Group, working closely with bioinformaticians at RRes, IBERS and SCRI. Our aim is to optimise the flow of information, expertise, data and tools throughout the BBSRC and UK crop plant communities.